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DAILY 03-02-10 MD SU B5 BLACK
TUESDAY, MARCH 2, 2010
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Once critical of stimulus package, McDonnell seeks Va. school aid
mcdonnell from B1 Many are lawmakers who voted
against the Recovery Act; Demo-
“He’s taken a look at the reality of
one of the largest federal expendi- intendent of Public Instruction
tures ever on the nation’s public Patricia Wright, who oversaw the
insisted that Virginia receive a crats accuse them of later taking
life. He’s faced with having to deal
schools. It uses grants to encour- application, said there are plenty
portion of the stimulus money. credit for stimulus-funded proj- age school systems to raise aca- of opportunities for the money to
“I thought the stimulus pack- ects in their districts.
with this situation, and he’s taking
demic standards, improve testing, create jobs, particularly at charter
age ought to have been done dif- McDonnell has been consistent
ferently but, as long as it was in his comments about the stimu-
money how he can get it.”
make better use of data to track schools or low-performing
student achievement and do more schools. “It can definitely be
there, that Virginia ought to have lus over the past year — saying, Senate Majority Leader Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax) on Gov. Robert F. to fix failing schools, among other about jobs,” Robinson said.
its share,” he said. whenever asked, that he would McDonnell’s position on stimulus money goals. States are encouraged to McDonnell said he hopes the
The stimulus creates a chal- accept the federal money but that enact laws that promote the es- state’s grant application is helped
lenge for McDonnell, a fiscal con- the state should not balance its build a Rolls-Royce aerospace application, which was a joint ef- tablishment of charter schools by his proposals to expand the
servative and one of the Repub- budget using money from the Re- manufacturing plant in Prince fort by Kaine and McDonnell, in- and other innovative programs. number of charter schools and to
lican Party’s rising stars. He has covery Act. George County, near Petersburg. cluded letters of support from create virtual schools, in which
chastised Democrats in Congress “The money is coming from He also said he would support groups that represent teachers,
A chance to create jobs?
students learn outside traditional
for their increased spending. But Virginia taxpayers. Frankly, it’s extending the stimulus legislation school boards, principals and su- The $350 million requested by classrooms, and laboratory
he is searching for money to help coming from the children of Vir- by six months to help states cover perintendents, and colleges. Virginia would be split between schools, which partner with col-
offset his state’s $4 billion budget ginia taxpayers,” McDonnell said rising health-care costs, and he McDonnell spoke to Obama the state and the 117 local educa- leges.
shortfall. in February 2009. “I think we announced that Virginia will re- about the application recently tion agencies that have asked for McDonnell’s bills have not re-
ought to take it to the maximum ceive $24 million in stimulus when he sat at the president’s ta- funding. Money would be spent ceived legislative approval, and it
Charges of hypocrisy
degree as possible.” money to advance health infor- ble at a black-tie White House on charter schools and low-per- is unlikely they will by the time
In February, which marked the The only stimulus funding he mation technology, funding that dinner. Virginia Education Secre- forming schools, finding and re- the Race to the Top finalists are
one-year anniversary of the Re- opposed was $125 million for un- was requested by his predecessor, tary Gerard Robinson talked up taining teachers, and improving announced this week.
covery Act, the DNC began target- employed Virginia workers, Democrat Timothy M. Kaine. the state when he appeared with student assessment, among other About 40 states applied for
ing Republicans across the nation which he said would lead to high- “He’s taken a look at the reality U.S. Education Secretary Arne purposes. All of Northern Vir- first-round grant money. Grants
who opposed the stimulus legisla- er taxes for businesses once the of life,’’ said Senate Majority Lead- Duncan at a Falls Church school ginia’s school systems signed on. will be awarded in April and Sep-
tion but then welcomed the mon- money was exhausted. The GOP- er Richard L. Saslaw (D-Fairfax). in January. McDonnell and Rob- “This is really not about creat- tember. Obama announced at a
ey. controlled House of Delegates re- “He’s faced with having to deal inson have each placed several ing jobs,’’ said Betty Lambdin, di- Fairfax County school in January
So far, 120 governors and mem- jected the funding last spring. with this situation, and he’s tak- calls to Duncan updating him on rector of the office of teaching and that he will award an additional
bers of Congress have made the Late last month, at his first ing money how he can get it.” Virginia’s progress. learning at the Virginia Education $1.35 billion to schools in another
Hypocrisy Hall of Fame, including meeting with Virginia’s congres- Virginia applied for $350 mil- The $4.35 billion Race to the Association, which represents round of Race to the Top funding
McDonnell and some fellow Vir- sional delegation, McDonnell lion through the Race to the Top Top program was enacted last teachers. “This is really about this year. Those applications are
ginians, Reps. Eric Cantor, Frank urged the lawmakers to help him program Jan. 15, the day before year as part of the $787 billion education reform.” due in June.
R. Wolf and Robert W. Goodlatte. secure stimulus funds to help McDonnell was inaugurated. The economic stimulus plan, marking But Robinson and state Super- kumaranita@washpost.com
2 die in shooting
at home day care
in Pr. William
shots but has not said much about
the incident.
Woman’s daughter
Williams began using White’s
protects children
child-care services five years ago
after moving in next door to
and summons police
White on Rockcliff Lane. Williams
continued with White after she
relocated the day care to Round-
by Jennifer Buske tree Drive because she trusted
and Josh White White with her son.
“Tonitha was a wonderful and
Richard Anthony Nichols caring person,” Williams said.
knocked on the door of the house “I’m just in shock, still trying to
on Roundtree Drive in Dale City process everything.”
early Monday, a home that dou- Williams praised White’s
bles as a day-care center. He was daughter and her response to the
looking for Tonitha Marie White. situation: “I’m so glad she kept
White’s 12-year-old daughter her wits. She was brave, and I
answered the door and let him in don’t know what I would have
before returning to the basement, done.”
where she was helping watch sev- Residents on Rockcliff said
en children before they were to White used to live there with her
head off to school. husband, George. Neighbors said
Within minutes, the daughter they did not know Nichols and
heard gunfire upstairs. She gath-
ered the children in a bathroom
and called Prince William County
“I’m just in
police, who found White and
shock, still
Nichols fatally shot at about 7 a.m.
Police said Monday that it ap-
trying to process
pears Nichols, 49, came to the
house to kill White, 39, and then
everything.”
turned the gun on himself. Al- — Natalie Williams,
MARK GAIL/THE WASHINGTON POST
though the nature of their rela- day-care user
Flora Izuka places her daughter Amara Mbah in her car seat at Learning World in Bladensburg. Izuka has asked for a break on tuition for her
tionship was unclear, Nichols and
18-month-old because the center had closed or opened late several days last month after snowstorms and she had to find substitute care.
White had been neighbors on an- never heard of a dispute between
other street in the same sub- Nichols and the Whites. They said
Storms tip balance of child-care economics
division until about a year ago, the Whites have two children —
when White separated from her the daughter who went to the
husband and moved. door and a son who is about 9.
Officer Erika Hernandez, a po- George White could not be
day care from B1 slight dip in licensed child-care Family day-care homes in areas child-care centers, mostly in
lice spokeswoman, said that the reached for comment.
homes statewide, which may be affected by the downturn are Northern Virginia, the weather
two were acquaintances and that “I’m shocked,” said Tom Har-
Others, like Izuka, worked but notable because jobless workers especially vulnerable, as Sherry closed operations for one day.
the shooting was a “domestic” sit- gest, who lives across the street
had to hire fill-in child care that sometimes become home Waters, in southern Prince Day-care workers on hourly
uation. Police found one gun at from White’s former residence on
cost extra. Add to such worries day-care providers. George’s, can attest. Her business wages — about 80 percent — did
the scene but did not describe the Rockcliff. “Tonitha was a great
those of child-care workers, who In Montgomery County, is off by half, she says, although not get paid for that day but
wounds or say how many shots gal.”
earn an average of $9.32 an hour reports of child-care vacancies she has cut her fees and extended could use vacation or ask for
were fired. They say they consider Johnny Acre, 62, lives across
nationally. Some wondered are up 38 percent in two years, her hours, hoping to bring in new other hours, spokeswoman Gina
the incident a murder-suicide. the street from the day-care cen-
whether they would be paid for and requests for help with families. Dabney said.
The children in the basement ter, which is in White’s gray two-
the days their centers were marketing and other business “People say the economy is Compared with many other
were uninjured and did not wit- story house. He said he has lived
closed. concerns shot up by 113 percent, getting better, but for the workers, child-care employees
ness the shooting. They were reg- in the neighborhood for 25 years.
“I have to have that paycheck said Barbara Warman, executive working class, I just don’t see are typically low-paid and have
ularly at the house for care before “This is a safe place,” said Acre,
to catch up with the bills,” said director of the Montgomery that,” she said. “And with this fewer benefits such as pension
and after school, and they were who was home Monday morning
Narmala Ayachitula, a teacher at County Child Care Resource and weather we’ve had, woo-ee.” and health insurance, said Marcy
taken to a police station in Wood- but did not hear gunshots. Other
Learning World. Referral Center. Waters stayed open every day Whitebook, director of the Center
bridge, where their parents residents also described the
Experts say the storms “It’s very sad,” she said. “I think through the worst of the snow. for the Study of Child Care
picked them up. neighborhood as a quiet place
underscored problems that have we’re losing some of the capacity Her families are required to pay Employment at the University of
For parents who left their chil- where many people keep to them-
long plagued day care’s faltering we’ve built up to make sure for the week of care, but, she says, California at Berkeley. In an
dren with White, the incident was selves.
economics. Many parents cannot children are ready for school and “I’m not an ogre. You work it out annual ranking of U.S. jobs,
a terrifying jolt. Natalie Williams Police said Monday that they
afford to pay any more for their parents have a safe and healthy with people.” day-care workers routinely fall
received a call from police at 8:18 are investigating a motive in the
child care — with costs rivaling place for their children when Marie Mosby, a home near the bottom, she said. Yearly
a.m. telling her that there had shootings and obtaining search
their rent or mortgage payments they go to work.” child-care provider in Arlington turnover rates are about
been “an incident” at the day care warrants for Nichols’s home and
— and many workers cannot The recession has taken an County, decided to split the 30 percent.
but that they could not provide vehicle.
afford to make any less, with their uneven toll on child care, hitting blizzard burden with her At Learning World in
details. buskej@washpost.com
wages near the poverty level. some areas and programs harder families; she would absorb two Bladensburg, the clashing
“I was scared to death and had whitejs@washpost.com
“Essentially, when there is than others. Corporate-owned snow days, and they would cover economic forces have lingered
a million things going through my
almost no profit to begin with, to day-care chains may have more the other two days. Her street was along with the snow.
head,” Williams said. She said her Staff researcher Meg Smith
lose five days to snow or to have ways to make cost-saving so unpassable, she said, “they Izuka, a single parent and
10-year-old son heard the gun- contributed to this report.
five kids pulled out because of the changes than many would have had to come in a licensed practical nurse, spent
economy, that’s a big deal,” said mom-and-pops. For smaller helicopter.” $100 to hire a fill-in caregiver for
Linda K. Smith, executive enterprises, “when things get In Alexandria, Diane Profusek, her toddler, Amara Mbah, during
director of the National tough, there is not much money director of Trinity MOPS the snow closings. On top of that,
Association of Child Care to pull from,” said Marie Preschool, paid her 25 teachers the snow increased the cost of her Driver accused of trying to hit
Resource and Referral Agencies. Darstein, executive director of and provided families with three commute because she had to
The consequences are serious, the National Child Care extra days of school by using drive and park in a downtown
four in Pr. George’s on purpose
Smith said. “Many of these Association, which has 5,000 parent-teacher conference and garage. She gets a child-care
programs are barely hanging on, member centers around the in-service days. Last month, the subsidy so that her copay is $73 a
and if we lose them, we are going country. students missed eight days of 20 week, but even so, she said, “I Chillum, just east of New Hamp-
to force more children into “The profit margin for child because of weather. can’t afford this.” by Debbi Wilgoren shire Avenue, Copeland said.
unregulated and illegal child care is probably one of the lowest Harriet Berger, executive She took her case to Gilchrist, Two of the victims — a man, 26,
care,” she said. Already, in the economy,” Darstein said. “A director of the Peppertree who was considering her request Prince George’s County police and a woman, 20 — were taken to
47 percent of all child care is couple of kids can make a big Children’s Center in even as a handwritten sign was are investigating an incident ear- a hospital for treatment of in-
done outside the licensing difference.” Germantown, said that after posted on the front door, saying ly Monday in which a man alleg- juries that were serious but not
system, with no background Not only that, but when being closed a week, she that tuition was due for the week edly drove his vehicle into a clus- life-threatening, Copeland said.
checks, training or inspections, families struggle, day-care bills wondered whether she could of the blizzard. ter of four people, intentionally The other two adults were treated
she said. are often placed at the bottom of refund any of the tuition back to “It’s kind of working out,” trying to hurt them. at the scene.
National trend numbers are the stack. At the Campagna parents. But when she reviewed Gilchrist said. For now, her The vehicle’s driver, whose Copeland said police believe
few, but Smith said her Center, which serves 800 expenses, she found not “a employees, most of whom were name was not released, was ar- that the driver knew at least one
organization’s surveys indicate a school-age children in penny” extra, she said. “More off four days, will get rested and taken into custody, of the four people he hit. Au-
national decline in child-care Alexandria, Karen Hughes has than 87 percent of our budget is compensated for two; she will said Cpl. Clinton Copeland, a po- thorities are characterizing it as a
capacity, as operators shut down noted a spike of 20 or 25 percent for salaries and benefits,” she improve on that, she said, as she lice spokesman. domestic assault.
low-enrollment classrooms in in late payers during the said. gets more tuition from parents. “I Just before 3 a.m., the man al- “In some way, shape or form,
their centers, trying to recession. “Visa and MasterCard Not all centers paid staff for told the staff, ‘I can’t pay you legedly hit the four people in a the suspect was known to the vic-
consolidate but not close. In and the mortgage company are their shutdown days. At unless I get paid.’ ” commercial strip in the 1400 tim or victims,” Copeland said.
Maryland, state data show a not as lenient,” she said. Minnieland, which has 50 stgeorged@washpost.com block of University Boulevard in wilgorend@washpost.com
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